Blog List

Spring Break

March 11, 2013 - Jane Whitmore

Will you be taking a spring break this year? March seems to be the time of year to head out for a little respite for those suffering from Cabin Fever. College students, free from classes, flock to the beaches where there is plenty of sunshine. Party time! The Iowa Tourism Office sent out a news release, offering family-friendly spring break options. Shawna Lode, Manager of the Iowa Tourism Office, suggests: Big 12 Gymnastics Championships, March 23 (Ames, www.cyclones.com) The Iowa State University Cyclones will compete against Oklahoma and West Virginia as they host the 2013 Big 12 Gymnastics Championships. This marks the third time the event has taken place at Hilton Coliseum. Kings Pointe Resort (Storm Lake, www.kingspointe resort.com) Guests at King's Pointe can stay in the hotel or family sized cabins, splash and slide in the indoor and outdoor water parks rent numerous types of watercraft and enjoy outstanding dining options. Long Lines Family Recreational Center (Sioux City, www.sioux-city.org/llfrc) The Long Lines Center features a world-class 53-foot climbing wall and free-standing boulder where visitors can practice their rock-climbing techniques, and a Tiny Tot Indoor Gym with toys, games, and activities for children ages 1-7. Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park (Grimes, www.sky zone.com/DesMoines) Sky Zone features wall-to-wall, interconnected trampolines that form a massive trampoline surface. More, Sky Zone is enclosed with angled trampolines so visitors can literally bounce off the walls. A T. Rex Named Sue at the Science Center of Iowa (Des Moines, www.sciowa.org) Discovered in the cliffs of the Cheyenne River in western South Dakota, Sue is the largest, most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever found. At 42 feet long and 12 feet high at the hip, Sue was one of the largest flesh-eaters to have ever inhabited the earth, and a dramatic, life-sized skeleton is the centerpiece of this special exhibition. Union Pacific Railroad Museum (Council Bluffs, www.uprrmuseum.org) The “Building America” exhibit incorporates video game technology to put visitors to work at the scene of the transcontinental railroad construction. From entering a tunnel at Donner Summit to trying their hand at driving a spike, visitors will see the 19th century feat of technology and engineering come to life like never before. World’s Greatest Spring Break for Kids (downtown Waterloo, www.worldsgreatestspringbreak.com) Eight locations, including the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Phelps Youth Pavilion and Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, team up to provide families with the world’s greatest spring break. Extended hours, $1 admission to each location and special events, March 18-22. You really don’t have to travel to enjoy spring break. Here are some local options the family can enjoy: • A family afternoon at the Smith Wellness Center. • Ice fishing on Five Island Lake. • Plan a trip to the Lost Island Nature Center at Ruthven. • Interested in museums? Call to make an appointments to visit the Victorian on Main Museum in Emmetsburg or the West Bend Historical Museum. • Take your family to a Sunday matinee at the Riviera Theatre, downtown Emmetsburg. • Round up some snowshoes or cross country skis for some outdoor fun. • Walk across town to visit a friend. • Build a snowman. We have a lot to offer right here in your backyard. And don’t forget the ultimate spring break activity: • Emmetsburg’s St. Patrick’s Celebration!